Composites Manufacturing Engineer - Hood River, OR

HEICO; Hood River (OR); On-site; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

HEICO is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to bridge Engineering and Production, translating customer requirements into manufacturable designs for high‑complexity composite parts. You will develop tooling and processes, drive shop-floor improvements, and support quality teams with GD&T, CMM inspections, and inspection planning.

Responsibilities include creating engineering drawings and process docs, evaluating readiness for new parts, mentoring production staff, and collaborating with customers

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Manufacturing Engineering.
• 3+ years in manufacturing engineering, preferably in composites or aerospace.
• 3+ years CAD/solid modeling experience (SolidWorks preferred).
• Strong GD&T knowledge with ASME Y14.5 familiarity.
• Experience writing work instructions and process documentation.
• Exposure to AS9100 environments preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Translate product requirements into practical manufacturing specifications.
• Design molds, fixtures, and tooling for composite part production.
• Create and maintain drawings, work instructions, and process documentation.
• Evaluate production readiness and support new part introductions.
• Improve lamination and machining processes with production staff.
• Perform root-cause analysis to resolve recurring issues.
• Train production personnel on process requirements and quality standards.
• Review incoming drawings for tolerances and DFM best practices.
• Develop inspection methods and documentation to support quality verification.
• Evaluate new technologies or methods to improve capability or quality.
• Support First Article Inspection and quality responsibilities.

Skills

CAD/SolidWorks

GD&T

Root cause analysis

Documentation

Fabrication processes

Cross-functional communication

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical/Manufacturing Eng

Tools

SolidWorks

CMM

Job description

Role Summary

The Manufacturing Engineer reports directly to the Engineering Manager and serves as the critical link between Engineering and Production teams. This role is responsible for translating customer requirements into manufacturable designs, developing the tooling and processes needed to produce high‑complexity composite parts, and driving continuous improvement across the shop floor. This role also supports quality engineering functions such as doing dimensional inspection using CMM machines, creating inspection plans, interpreting GD&T, and doing root cause and corrective action activities.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Work directly with customers and engineering teams to understand product requirements and translate them into practical manufacturing specifications
• Design molds, trim fixtures, and assembly tooling for high‑complexity composite part production
• Create and maintain engineering drawings, work instructions, and process documentation to support shop floor execution
• Evaluate production readiness for new products and support the introduction of new parts into the manufacturing workflow
• Develop, document, and continuously improve lamination and machining processes in collaboration with production staff
• Identify and resolve recurring manufacturing issues through structured root cause analysis and corrective action
• Train and support production personnel on process requirements, drawing interpretation, and quality standards
• Perform incoming customer drawing reviews and advise on appropriate tolerances and DFM best practices.
• Develop and refine inspection methods, fixturing, and documentation to support part acceptance and quality verification
• Evaluate new technologies, materials, and methods that could improve manufacturing capability or product quality
• Support First Article Inspection processes and other quality engineering responsibilities
• Perform other duties as assigned

Skills & Knowledge

• Solid understanding of composite manufacturing processes, materials, and tooling
• Proficiency in CAD/solid modeling for tooling and fixture design (SolidWorks preferred)
• Ability to produce clear engineering drawings with proper GD&T callouts per ASME Y14.5 or equivalent
• Strong working knowledge of GD&T and its practical application in a manufacturing environment
• Experience writing work instructions, process documentation, and manufacturing procedures
• Familiarity with root cause analysis and corrective action processes
• Foundational knowledge of AS9100 and First Article Inspection; deeper expertise can be developed on the job
• Hands‑on, solutions‑oriented mindset with strong attention to detail
• Effective communicator with the ability to work across engineering, production, and customer‑facing contexts
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field
• 3+ years of experience in a manufacturing engineering role, preferably in composites or aerospace
• 3+ years of CAD/solid modeling experience (SolidWorks preferred)
• Strong understanding of GD&T; advanced on-the-job training available
• Familiarity with composite materials, processes, and aerospace product requirements
• Exposure to AS9100 environments preferred but not required
• Self-starter with strong analytical and problem-solving skills who works well independently and within a team
• Eligible candidates must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawfully admitted permanent resident, or otherwise eligible U.S. person